Drainage-tube.



PATENTED FEB. '7, 1905.

J. J. BOWKBR.

DRAINAGE TUBE.

APPLIUATION Hmm MAB. v, 1904.

JNVENTOR.

UNITED STATES Patented February '7, 1905.

PATENT FFICEo DRAINAGE-TUBE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 781,763, dated February'7, 1905.

Application iled March 7, 1904. Serial No. 197,059.

.To rt// whom, [t n1/ty emmer/t:

Be it known that l, Janes J. Bowman, a citizen of the United States,residingat Laotto,in the county of Noble and State of Indiana, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Drainage-'.lubes, of which thefollowing, together with the preferable construction ofthe tube itself,is a specification.

A\Iy invention relates to improvements in d rainage-tubes of a purelymedical class, which are designed to remain in place, so that eli'eteand noxious matters may continually pass out of the cavity, the drainageof which is desired.

'lhe objects of my improvement are as follows: First, to provide adrainage-tube with integral arms extending from its inner end, said armsbeing capable of adjustment within a cavity in such a manner as to holdthe tube in position for an indefinite time; second, to provide a smoothattachment to a drainagetube, which will make it possible to easilyintroduce the tube without irritation to the walls of the cavity; third,to provide a means of securing the tube to the instrument used for itsintroduction while that operation is being accomplished.

Figure l is a front view of my device with the arms in position for theinsertion of the tube into the cavity which it is desirable to drain.Fig. 2 is a front view of my device as it would appear afteritsintroduction into the cavity had been accomplished.

The drawings are made double size in order that the construction can beshown to better advantage.

Similar numerals of reference designate similar parts throughout bothviews.

rIhe tube l is metallic, preferably of aluminium, and of any suitabledimensions, usually about one-fourth of an inch in diameter and longenough to project outside the cavityinto which it has been introduced.The upper part of the tube I is provided with arms 2, which arepreferably made integral with the tube and tapering Vfrom it. The armsare thin, narrow, and of suflicient compliance to be easily bent intoplace. This will more fully appear in the description of the mode ofoperation. The upper ends of the arms 2, havingI been tlattened intodisk form, are attached to and separated by a flattened ball with adownward projection T. The attachment is preferably made by a rivet l).In process of riveting the enlarged disk-like ends of the arms 2 arecompressed around the flattened ball in such a manner that the entiremass forms the rounded ball S with the downward projection 7. 'lhe ballSi providesl the smooth attachment to a drainage-tube which makesitpossible to introduce thc tube without irritation to the walls of thecavity,77 while the downward projection T provides a means of securingthe tube to the instrument used in its introduction while that operationis being accom plished.

The preferable mode of operation is as lollows: The device is closed asshown in Fig. I. The instrument designed to accomplish the introductionof the tube into the cavity is passed up through the tube and engages itat the projection T. The tube having been placed on the instrument usedfor its introduction and being' l'irmly held to it by the projection 7is now pushed as Vfar within the cavity as desired and the arms spreadas follows: By means of a plunger which is within the instrument usedfor introduction lateral pressure is exerted at the middle points of thearms 2,which beingcompliant bend outward easily. 'lhe ball 8 is thusdepressed and the arms 2 extended until they respectively assume theposition desired. This position would. with perhaps some slightvariation, coincide with the outline of the device in place as shown inFig.

From the mode of operation the two lastnamed functions of my device willbe evidentvf. a., the ball 8 thus provides a smooth attachment at theend of the tube, which enables the operator to introduce it into thecavity without irritation, and the projection T thus engages theinstrument used for introduction, holds the tube firmly in positionduring the operation, and by keepingthe ballS in line of thelongitudinal diameter of the tube insures an equal lateraldistention ofthe arms 2.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

l. A drainage-tube consisting of the tube of any suitable length, as 1,provided with arms 2 connected to said tube at its inner end preferablyintegrally, and tapering from it, said arms 2 being thin and pliant, andWhose loose ends, having beenflattened into disk form, are riveted to aattened ball With a downward projection 7, forming with it the roundedball 8, With the downward projection 7.

2. In a drainage-tube of any suitable length, as l, provided with armsextendingvfrom the inner end thereof, said arms being pliant in a degreethat Will adapt them to be spread apart into a position such as willretain the tube'in place Within the cavity into Which it has beenintroduced.

3. In adrainage-tube oi' any suitable length,

February, 1904.

JAMES J. BOVVKER. l/Vitnesses:

ALBERT ROSENBERGER, MABEL BILGER.

